Improved thill-coupling



:uiten faire @anni @ffirp Letters Patent-N0. 76,198, elated M'aijck 31, 1868. i

IMPROYED THlLL-GOUPLING.

dlgs Srlphule :mmh tu iii-tigen 'gieten tteut mit uniting @nl nt fige inmaro ALL WHoM 1T MAY cononnn: i

` Be it known that I, PHINEAS JONES,`of Newark, in the county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, have invented a newand improved [Phill-Coupling for Vehicles; and I hereby declare the following to he a-full and exact description thereof, reference being'lhad to the accompanying drawings, which make a part of this speciviication, and in whioh- I Y Figure 1 represents a vertical longitudinal section of a thill-coupling illustrating my'invcntion, and

Figure 2 a. horizontal section Aof the same at :v :e,iig. 1. i f

Figure 3 is a verticalsection, illustrating a modification in the manner of applying the thill-iron to thewood.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

The nature of my invention consists informing the rear end or loop of the thill-iron so thin as to constitute in 4itself` a spring, which, by means-of a bolt and mit, may be drawn tightly-around an annular bushing of raw hide,leather, or other suitable material, whichY surrounds the coupling-bolt, andis compressed thereon with any -necessary force, so as to protect the thill-iron from wear,` and eftectually prevent rattling. The device possesses several important advantages over thosehitherto in use, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

In thedrawings, A represents a portion ot` the Wooden thill, and B a portion of the thill-iron',` the annular rear part of which, from b to b1, is formed of a uniform thinness, so as-to constitute a spring. bzrepresents a rigid projection from the aforesaid elastic loop or band, and C a bolt, which, passing through to the body of theA iron, B, and itslendV b2, .receives a nut, YD, by means o f which the band b Zwl may be drawn as tightly asfdesired around the iillet or packing E, which eneircles the coupling-bolt F. G represents `the customary clip, formed withl perforated ears, g g, for the reception ofthe bolt F. In {ig-1, the bolt C is-represented as passing through the wooden part of the thill. In fig. 3, the said bolt is shown with its head countersunk into the iron, anda separate holt'rC, "is shown, connecting the iron and the wood. My thin elastic band 6 b1 affords room for a sleeve or bushing, E, of ample thickness to sustain all the wear from a coupling-bolt,'an d by being drawn in from time to time, will compress the said bushing constantlyiand uniformly around all parts of the said bolt; When released frornthebolt C, the elasticity of the strap causes it Vto open around the' entire circle, (asshown in red lines in iig.. 3,) thus freeing the bushing more completely than in the case of a hinged strap, and admit ting of the insertion of a bushing of larger size. l

Where it is desired to change from shaftsto tongue, or vice versa, thenutD is turned back suiiciently to allow the strep b b1 to open, and the coupling-bolth` may then he readily taken out.

' The above-described(device isbelievcd to combine the qualities of` cheapness, simplicity, and e'tliciency in a greater degree than any heretofore contrived. i

By forming the band Z1 11l thick'iuthe middle and thinat'the edges, as indicated by the red linein fig. 2, andcausing the bushing to project slightly, any metallic contact between the thill-iron and theclip may he avoided, the contact, being with the bushing only. i

I am aware that elasticvmetallic straps, with lugs on one or both'ends for the reception of screw-bolts, have long been in use for various other purposes. I am also aware that hooks of various forms have-been formedupon 4the endsl'of the thill-irons, and also that the thill-iro'n has .been provided-with a hinged strap to enclose the coupling-bolt. This is inferior to myinvention, in that 'it'docs not withdraw the pressure of the strap from all around the coupling-bolt, so as to allow the latter to be taken Vout by a slight` turning back of the tighteningscrew. These devices I do not claim; but

What I do claim, and desire to securefby Letters Patent, is-

The combination of the' metallic spring` b b, formed` uponlthe thilliron, the sleeve E, and the 'tighteningholt C, when arranged and employed substantially as and furthe purpose herein set forth.

PHINEAS JONES. Witnesses: v

Oemvxus KNIGHT,

J. n. M. BOWEN. 

